A cheese processing vat (10) of the type having a pair of interconnected generally cylindrical wall portions (11) with agitator panels rotating therein to sweep generally cylindrical volumes includes agitator panels which have radially inner edge portions spaced radially outwardly from the axis of panel rotation, and the axes of rotation of the two panels are spaced at a distance less than the radius of the volumes swept by the panels. In this manner, the overlap in the volumes swept by the respective panels permits the radially outer edge portion of one panel to pass through the normally quiescent space at and beyond the axis of rotation of the other panel. A unique divergent cutting blade orientation provides beneficial cross cutting of the cheese mass during processing.

Food processing vat

A multi-blade blender is disclosed having a drive shaft, a gear system, and at least two blade assemblies. Each blade assembly includes a blade affixed to an end of a blade shaft. The blade shafts of the first, second and third blade assemblies are angled from the vertical position toward the container wall. The gear system engages at least one of the blade assemblies. The drive shaft engages the gear system and causes the blade assemblies to rotate in operation.

Multiple blade blender apparatus

An orthodontic bracket comprising a body and a locking member movable coupled to the body. The body defines an archwire slot and has a labial surface and a lingual surface. The body also includes an undercut positioned between the labial surface and the lingual surface. The locking member engages the undercut and is pivotable relative to the body between a closed position where access to the archwire slot in inhibited and an open position where access to the archwire slot is permitted. In one embodiment, the body has a mesial-distal width, and the undercut extends across substantially the entire mesial-distal width of the body. In a different embodiment, the undercut extends across only a portion of the mesial-distal width of the body. In another aspect, the locking member includes a head portion for closing the archwire slot when the locking member is in the closed position and having a first mesial-distal width, a neck portion having a second mesial-distal width less than the first mesial-distal width, and a tail portion for engaging the body and having a third mesial-distal width greater than the second mesial-distal width (e.g., substantially equal to the first mesial-distal width. In one embodiment, the bracket further includes two tie wings coupled to the body, and the neck portion is positioned between the two tie wings.

Self-ligating orthodontic bracket with mid-undercut

An improved pug mill mixer including at least one homogenizer shaft extending transverse to the direction of the pug mill shafts for providing a zone of high shear mixing. The pug mill mixer of the present invention is particularly well-suited to mix dry, fine powders with liquids and pasty, sticky sludges, such as flue gas desulfurization (FGD) sludge. The mixer includes a container, within which is disposed at least one pug mill shaft having a series of pug mill paddles coupled to and radially protruding from the pug mill shafts for mixing the mixture and transporting the mixture along the pug mill shafts. The homogenizer shafts extend in a direction transverse to the pug mill shafts. Homogenizer mixing elements are coupled to and radially protrude from the homogenizer shafts. The homogenizer shafts rotate at a relatively high speed for producing a zone of high shear mixing. A liquid injection nozzle injects liquid into the container near the feed port of the container.

Pug mill mixer

A twin shaft “compulsory mixer” having a capacity in the range of twelve cubic yards has a static mixing chamber bottom defined from two horizontally disposed and interfering cylindrical shapes. Two centrally disposed elongate rectilinear discharge gates are each defined from an end in the bottom of the static mixing chamber to abut at the middle of the static mixing chamber. At the middle bottom of the static mixing chamber, a tensioning rod is placed extending normally across the abutted ends of the two rectilinear slots. Two eccentrically mounted elongate rectilinear gates are mounted for movement into and out of sealing relation to the rectilinear slot centrally of the static mixing chamber. These gates are mounted centrally of the mixing chamber to a pillow block and spherical bearing arrangement and actuated at the respective static mixer chamber ends by conventional piston drives. Reducing the gates in length, reduces deflection making chamber sealing possible. Further, the tensioning rod adjusts for chamber deflection. Finally, the eccentrically mounted elongate rectilinear gates can be rotated in opposite directions to deposit concrete on opposite sides of a concrete off-loading and elevating conveyor. Discharge of mixed concrete at maximally controlled rates can occur in a balanced fashion to an underlying conveyor for elevation and discharge from the large capacity compulsory mixer forming the foundation of the portable modular plant.

Large volume twin shaft compulsory mixer

A dual shaft pan mixer comprises a mixing vessel (1) having a first and a second pan section (3 and 4), a pair of paddle assemblies (10) having drive shafts (13) which are disposed horizontally and in paralllel relationship with each other within the mixing vessel (1) and adapted to rotate in mutually opposite directions, and a drive source (20) for synchronously driving the pair of paddle assemblies (10). The mixing vessel (1) includes a substantially triangular space (22) below an area intermediate the first and the second pan section and displaced out of the loci of rotation of the paddle assemblies (10), and also includes a discharge port (5) which is disposed adjacent to the space (22). The mixer also comprises a rod-shaped vibration generator (30) disposed within the space (22) and extending in a direction parallel to the drive shafts (13).

Dual shaft pan mixer

A forced kneading concrete mixer including a or a plurality of mixing members such as paddles or blades disposed at fixed positions within a rotating pan or cylindrical vessel. The mixing member is carried by a support which is movably mounted on a stationary member and which is subjected to a vertical oscillation having an amplitude of from 2 to 5 mm and a frequency of 3500 to 6000 cycles per minute. A fluid charge comprising ingredients to form concrete is mulled and oscillated by the cooperation of the vessel and the mixing member. When subjected to the oscillation, the individual particles of cement contained in the oscillating fluid charge are dispersed and acquire moisture on their surface. The load on the mixing member is reduced inasmuch as the consistency is increased due to a temporary tendency of the charge to fluidize.

Forced kneading mixer

A two-shaft forced kneader-mixer provided with a mixing chamber (1) having a first and a second pan (3 and 4), two sets of paddle assemblies (10) having shafts (13), rotating in opposite directions each other, provided horizontally and parallelly relative to said pans in said mixing chamber (1), and a power source (20) for driving synchronously said two sets of paddle assemblies (10). Said mixing chamber (1) has a space (22) having a nearly triangular shape not included within the loci of rotation of said both paddle assemblies (10) under between said first pan (3) and second pan (4), and a discharge port (5) adjacent to said space (22). Said mixer also has a rod-shaped vibrator (30) disposed in said space (22) and extending in parallel with said driving shafts (13).

Two-shaft forced kneader-mixer

PURPOSE:To promote the dispersion of cement in the concrete materials and to efficiently carry out kneading by providing a rod-like vibrator at the lower center on the outside of a rotation locus of a paddle in the title double-shaft forced kneading mixer equipped with the two paddles. CONSTITUTION:Concrete materials are charged in the mixer drum, the rotating shafts 2 and 3 are rotated in the directions as shown by the arrows. As a result, the materials are successively moved to the lower center by the rotation of the paddles, brought into contact with the rod-like vibrator 8 which is provided at the lower center at a position being out of contact with the paddle, and vibrated over the whole length in the axial direction. The particles of cement are sufficiently dispersed by the vibration, and the compressive strength of the cement can be increased. Moreover, since the fluidity is improved, kneadability is ameliorated, the materials can be kneaded in a short time, and the running cost can be reduced.

Teruo Udagawa

Papers

Dual shaft pan mixer

Forced kneading mixer

Two-shaft forced kneader-mixer

Vibration type double-shaft forced kneading mixer